The Deck
Tubi, 2022 — Cold case podcast series covering multiple missing and murdered persons
Quick facts
What Is The Deck?
The Deck is a true-crime podcast series created by Ashley Flowers, the founder of Audiochuck, one of the most prominent independent true-crime audio production companies in the United States. Rather than following a single criminal case across its run, the series takes a distinctive and unusual approach: each episode investigates a different cold case of a missing or murdered person, with the case selected by drawing a card from a specially designed deck of prison playing cards.
The podcast originally premiered in 2022 and quickly gained a loyal following among true-crime enthusiasts. In the summer of 2024, the series made its streaming debut on Tubi, the free ad-supported platform owned by Fox Corporation, bringing both Season 1 and Season 2 to a broader audience. This makes The Deck one of the few podcast-originated true-crime series to successfully transition to a dedicated streaming platform.
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The Concept: Cold Cases From a Deck of Cards
The central premise of The Deck is both simple and compelling. In several U.S. states, correctional facilities have distributed playing card decks to prison inmates that feature the faces and details of unsolved missing persons and murder victims. The idea is that inmates — some of whom may have knowledge of crimes from the streets — might recognize a face and come forward with information, potentially cracking a cold case that law enforcement has been unable to solve through conventional means.
Ashley Flowers and the Audiochuck team use these decks as a literal starting point: each episode begins with a card being drawn, and that card determines which victim's story will be told. The result is a series of standalone investigations, each episode functioning as its own self-contained true-crime story. There is no single perpetrator, no single victim, and no single trial associated with the show as a whole. Instead, viewers and listeners encounter a different tragedy — and a different community left searching for answers — with each new episode.
This format has been widely praised for shining a light on cases that might otherwise remain entirely outside the public eye. Many of the victims featured in The Deck are not household names; they are ordinary people whose disappearances or murders went unsolved and, in many cases, underreported.
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The Cases
Because The Deck covers multiple distinct cold cases, it is not possible to summarize a single perpetrator, victim, or verdict for the series as a whole. Each episode features its own:
- Victim's name, age, and background
- Date and location of the disappearance or murder
- Investigation history and law enforcement involvement
- Current status of the case (solved, unsolved, or partially resolved)
Viewers interested in a specific case should navigate to The Deck on Tubi Season 1 or Season 2, where individual episode titles identify the victim by name. Fuller case details — including perpetrator names and sentences where applicable — are available through the official podcast website.
It is also worth noting an important distinction: The Deck is not the same as True Crime Files: The Shocking Case of Brian Cohee Jr., a separate documentary also available on Tubi (2023). The two should not be confused, as they are entirely different productions with different subjects and formats.
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Production
The Deck is produced entirely by Audiochuck, the podcast network founded by Ashley Flowers, who also hosts the flagship Audiochuck series Crime Junkie. Flowers serves as the creative force behind the series, personally hosting and narrating each episode. The production does not have a traditional film director, as The Deck originated as an audio-first podcast rather than a documentary film or television series.
The Audiochuck team is known for working closely with victims' families, retired investigators, and local law enforcement agencies to gather firsthand accounts and previously undisclosed details. This investigative approach distinguishes The Deck from many true-crime productions that rely primarily on archival footage or court records.
The transition to Tubi represents a significant milestone for Audiochuck as a company, demonstrating growing appetite among streaming platforms for podcast-derived true-crime content. Tubi, which operates as a free, ad-supported streaming service under Fox Corporation, has expanded its true-crime library considerably in recent years.
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Reception
Within the true-crime podcast community, The Deck has been consistently well-received. The series is described as a top-rated Audiochuck production, praised for:
- Its innovative format using prison playing cards as the structural device
- Its sensitivity toward victims' families, who are often consulted during episode production
- Its investigative rigor, which goes beyond surface-level retelling of cases
- Its ability to draw attention to forgotten or overlooked cold cases that mainstream media has largely ignored
Since The Deck originated as a podcast rather than a traditional film or television documentary, it does not carry an IMDb rating or listing. Viewer reactions on Tubi have been positive, with audiences noting that the series offers a compelling and emotionally grounded alternative to the more sensationalized corners of the true-crime genre.
No major controversies have been publicly reported in connection with the series.
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The Cases Today
Because The Deck covers a rotating roster of cold cases, the "current status" of the series is best understood at the individual episode level. Some cases featured across the two seasons may have seen developments since their respective episodes aired — including new leads, arrests, or identifications — while others remain entirely unsolved.
Ashley Flowers and Audiochuck continue to produce new content, and The Deck remains an active series with an engaged listener and viewer community. For anyone moved by a particular case featured in the show, the official podcast website maintains episode archives and, in some instances, provides information on how members of the public can submit tips to relevant law enforcement agencies.
The Deck stands as a meaningful example of how true-crime storytelling — when handled responsibly — can serve not just as entertainment, but as a genuine public service to families and communities still waiting for justice.
